Saturday, May 14, 2011

California Man Tasered To Death After Running A Stop Sign

Phil Willon writes in the LA Times:

A 43-year-old man died after San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies used a Taser gun to subdue him after a traffic stop, authorities said Wednesday.

A deputy attempted to stop Allen Kephart, a disc jockey and teacher’s assistant from Crest Park, after he allegedly ran a stop sign about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday on California 189 in Blue Jay, said Cindy Bachman, a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.

Kephart pulled into a Valero gas station parking lot about a quarter of a mile away, got out of the car and “became combative and uncooperative” with the deputy, Bachman said. Additional deputies arrived to assist, she said.

“The deputy attempted to place him under arrest, at which time he was Tased,” Bachman said. “He became unconscious, and medical aid was immediately provided, CPR.” Kephart was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

Kephart’s father, a member of the Sheriff’s Department’s volunteer mounted rangers unit for decades, called his son’s death a senseless use of excessive force. The incident happened when his son was returning to the family home after filling up his car with gas in Crestline.

22 comments:

  1. >man runs a stop sign
    >better taser him

    Go team police!

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  2. Poor but also, 43 years and still unwise. How much you might disagree with a cop aiming a taser at you, you better cooperate!

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  3. They should really limit the use of taser or any electric powered shock system. It can be extremely dangerous to a lot of people, even those that doesn't have heart problems. The huge amount of shock goes through your body is just plain abnormal

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  4. what the hell! poor man...

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  5. Unfortunate. But if he would have been cooperative, he might still be alive.

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  6. Got a source link for this? Crazy shit.

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  7. Teaser guns are good against tough persons....but honestly, why would you use it on a single man when you already called reinforcement?

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  8. The guys had to be paralyzed after the first taze, but why till he dies? Holly crap...

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  9. This is why I think you should be Tasered before being allowed to use one.

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  10. Seems like you wouldn't be dying from a quick "taze" to subdue you. Probably repeatedly tazed him until his heart gave out.

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  11. Seems a little much for running a stop sign...

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  12. Taser should ONLY be used in situations where an officer would use their firearm. The taser is a less-lethal weapon but certainly not non-lethal.

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  13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VVlTTqIgdY

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  14. This is what your country has come to.. pity

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